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Saturday, March 3, 2012

Suqqu Cheek Blush Brush Review, Photos, Comparisons

I did not want to believe Suqqu brushes were worth the hype. Too bad they are. This is my second Suqqu brush, and it was worth every penny. My first was the small eyebrow brush, which I have used in several videos before. It is a wonderful brush, but this cheek brush is made of the softest bristles that I have ever encountered. See all the comparisons after the jump!

I purchased both of my Suqqu brushes from Dollyleo.com and I paid $135 USD for the blush brush. It is the most expensive brush I own to date but again, it was worth every penny. Dollyleo usually sells out of these brushes within a day or two of restocking them, so if you see they're available, do not hesitate to purchase if you want them.Dollyleo has since closed shop. The cheek and powder brushes are comprised of blue squirrel hairs, the same as my beloved (and now discontinued) Dior blush brush. As much I love the shape and performance of my Dior blush brush, the Suqqu hair quality is far superior. The bristles do not splay, retaining their shape with regular use even though they are so soft! Quite a feat. I admit I was surprised, however, when I opened up the box and saw how small the head of the brush was. It is about the size of a large highlighting blush. Also, please note: the bristles are more brown, less black than they appear in the photos.

The bristles sit flat (like Sue Devitt's powder brush that Lisa Eldridge loves) so the brush looks stiff in the picture above, but there is a significant amount of give to them against the face. The bristles are incredibly silky, making any pigmented blush a dream to apply. It is difficult to explain how plush the brush feels against the skin and the best 'sensation' comparison I can come up with is the feeling of petting a chinchilla. If you've ever touched a chinchilla before, you'll know what I mean. If you haven't, go to Petsmart and try petting one! The slightly smaller shape of the brush and the tapered edges of the bristles allow for versatile application of color. Apply your favorite blush all over the cheeks for a full flushed blush effect, just on the apples for adorable doll cheeks, or right along the tops of the cheeks to slim the face. Depending on how much pressure you use to pick up the blush, you can achieve sheer to full color coverage. The only downside to the softness of the bristles is that they are a little too pliable. I prefer a bit of bounce and more density for my go-to blush brush.

SUQQU is famous for their lightweight, black lacquered handles. The logo is laser printed in a very subtle grey color immediately below the ferrule. I would prefer if it had been engraved, considering the price, but it isn't really worth discussing further because the craftsmanship is undeniable. In the photos below, I tried my best to capture how slim and ergonomically designed the brush handle is.

The MAC 209 is nowhere near my list of favorite brushes since it sheds a horrific amount with every wash and I've washed it over a dozen times now, but I included it because I do use it to apply powder blushes. It is has a full, rounded edge, but it is not quite as dense as the Suqqu brush. The Dior brush has an obvious fan shape and is more dense than the Suqqu. You may also observe the handles are noticeably different. The Dior handle is a medium-width, angular metal handle. I absolutely adore Dior brushes, but this range has unfortunately been discontinued and redesigned (I much prefer the older designs). The Suqqu handle is thin and tapered, rounded off at the end. It fits neatly into my hand. The MAC 209 handle is made of wood, closest to the industry standard in shape with its longer length and is the same size from the edge of the ferrule to the end of the handle. I prefer tapered ends, but that's just my personal bias because I have smaller hands.

Bottom Line: My top three blush brushes are by Suqqu, Dior, and Bobbi Brown (not pictured), each unique with their own merits. The Suqqu blush brush has an exponentially higher price tag, but the quality and exclusivity make it worth the splurge!

Have you tried piccasso (yes, with two c's...lol) brushes? It's a Korean brand that is well known for their natural looking fake lashes (I heard a lot of Korean celebrities use them) and their makeup brushes. I want to know how they would compare with suqqu. I think they are available online now at piccassobrush(dot)com... Their brushes are quite expensive too :(